Aerosol valve assembly



April 1, 1959 J. L. KIRALY 2,883,089

' AEROSOL VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 26, 1955 '29 2 JOCT -27 V 26 2O 33*r] 5 J1 50 31 QZbjSdAM AEROSOL VALVE ASSEMBLY Joseph L. Kiraly, ParkForest, 111., assignor to Aerosol Research tCompany, a corporation ofIllinois Application September 26, 1955, Serial No. 536,382

11 Claims. (Cl. 222394) This invention relates to an aerosol valveassembly comprising a simplified self-sealing unit adapted to dispensepressurized fluids.

The valve assembly may be assembled as a unit with any suitable mountingcup designed to be secured to an opening in one end of a can, bottle, orsimilar container. Preferably the mounting cup is formed of sheet metaland the other parts of the valve assembly are made of plastic or rubber.However, any of the parts may be made of plastic, metal, or rubber ifdesired. In the preferred embodiment all of the metering and valvemechanism are outside of the container, and do not come into contactwith the contents except during the dispensing operation. A modifiedembodiment includes a small disk positioned within the tube holder andprovided with an internal metering orifice to provide a double meteringsystem.

The valve is provided with a stem that projects through an opening inthe mounting cup, and a spray tip is loosely fitted on the stem. In thedrawings the tip is of the type adapted to dispense the contents of thecontainer in a fine spray, but it will be understood that a tip adaptedto dispense the contents as a foam may be used. The tip may be securedto the mounting cup or to the sealing gasket by means of interengagingprojections.

The valve has an integral tube holder depending from its lower surface.The valve stem is provided with a Vertical recess communicating with thetube holder, and with a lateral orifice extending from the recessthrough the side of the stem. A sealing gasket of rubber or suitablecomposition fitting around the lower portion of the stem within thecenter opening of the mounting cup seals the lateral orifice. The spraytip is adapted to displace the gasket from sealing contact with theorifice upon the application of vertically downward pressure against thetip.

The tip is provided with a vertical bore which fits over the stem andextends above the upperend of the stem to provide an expansion chamberwhich communicates with a discharge orifice extending laterally from theexpansion chamber through the side of the tip. The fit of the verticalbore on the stem may be loose enough to permit the contents of thecontainer to travel upwardly around the outside of the stem to theexpansion chamber, or metering channels may be provided eitheron theoutside of the vertical surface of the stem or on the inside of thevertical bore of the tip.

The structure by which the above mentioned and other advantages of theinvention are attained will be described in the following specification,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing twopreferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container provided with an aerosolvalve assembly embodying the invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the valve assembly with the valve inclosed position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the valve assembly withthe valve in dispensing position;

fitates Patent-O ice Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the valve;and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a modified embodiment of the valveassembly.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a mountingcup having an annular base 3. The outer edge of the mounting cup extendsupwardly as indicated at 4, and is curved outwardly, as indicated at 5,and downwardly, to form a peripheral flange 6. A suitable sealingcomposition 7 is applied to the underside of the outwardly extendingportion 5 to facilitate sealing the mounting cup to a central opening(not shown) in the top of a container 8. The container is shown in theform of a can, but it will be understood that a bottle or any othersuitable type of container may be used. The center portion of mountingcup 2 is embossed upwardly to provide an upstanding Wall 9 and acentrally disposed opening 10.

The upper edge of the upstanding wall 9 is turned in wardly to form anannular flange 11. Another annular flange 12 is formed intermediate theheight of upstanding wall 9. Below flange 12 an annular rib 13 is formedto extend inwardly of wall 9. The purposes of these flanges and rib 13will be hereinafter described, in connection with the structuralfeatures of the valve assembly with which they cooperate.

The valve comprises a circular disk 14 having an integral tube holder 15depending from its lower surface. Disk 14 is dimensioned to fit snuglywithin upstanding Wall 9 of the mounting cup. The lower edge of disk 14is recessed, as indicated at 16, to engage annular rib 13 whereby thevalve is secured to the mounting cup. Upstanding wall 9 is suflicientlyresilient to permit disk 14 to be pressed into the space defined by wall9 with the circumferential edge of disk 14 sliding past rib 13 until therecessed portion 16 is aligned with rib 13 when the resilience of wall 9causes rib 13 to snap into place in recess 16.

Tube holder 15 comprises a cylindrical skirt 17 depending from disk 14to define an open bottom recess 18 adapted to communicate with theinterior of a container when the valve assembly is mounted in an openingin the top of the container. A tube 19 is secured on the skirt 17 andextends into the interior of container 8. Tube 19 may fit either on theoutside or inside of skirt 17, and may be secured thereto in anysuitable manner.

A valve stem 20, integral with the valve, extends upwardly from disk 14through opening 10. The lower end of stem 20 is provided with a verticalrecess 21, and a lateral metering orifice 22 extends from recess 21through the wall of stem 20. A sealing gasket 23 fitting around stem 20is positioned above disk 14 and below flange 12. The sealing gasket issufliciently thick to permit its inner edge to seal the outer end oforifice 22.

The upper surface of disk 14 is provided with an annular shoulder 24 atthe base of stem 20 to provide a seat for the inner edge of sealinggasket 23. The peripheral rim of disk 14 is provided with an upstandingannular bead 25 having its upper edge in the horizontal plane ofshoulder 24. Bead 25 supports the outer edge of sealing gasket 23. Theupper edge of bead 25 is spaced below flange 12 a distance substantiallyequal to the thickness of gasket 23, so that the gasket is compressedslightly between the bead and flange 12 to prevent any of the contentsfrom leaking past the sealing gasket. Bead 25 is spaced annularly fromshoulder 24 to provide an annular groove 26 spaced below the bottomsurface of gasket 23.

A spray tip 27 is provided with a vertical bore 28 adapted to fit overvalve stem 20. Preferably the fit of bore 28 over stem 20 is loose, topermit passage of mathe bore may be provided with suitable meteringgrooves, for example as shown at 28' in stem in Fig. 4, to permitpassage of the contents of the container. Bore 28 is longer than stem 20to provide an expansion chamber 29 above the upper end of the stem. Adischarge orifice 30 extends from expansion chamber 29 through the wallof tip 27 to communicate with the atmosphere.

The lower end portion of tip 27 is dimensioned to fit within opening 14)and is provided with a circumferential rib 31 having an outer diameterslightly larger than the diameter of opening 10. Flange 11 issufliciently resilient to snap over rib 31 as tip 27 is presseddownwardly to assemble it with the rest of the valve assembly. When tip27 is positioned with its lower edge engaging the top surface of gasket23, rib 31 is positioned just below flange 11. The interengagement offlange 11 and rib 31 prevents separation of tip 27 from the mountingcup.

The lower edge of tip 27 is recessed internally, as indicated at 32, toleave a comparatively narrow bottom 33 in contact with the upper surfaceof gasket 23. It will be noted that bottom 33 is positioned in line withgroove 26, so that when tip 27 is depressed bottom 33 tends to press theintermediate annular portion of gasket 23 into groove 26, as shown inFig. 3. Since the outer edge of gasket 23 is firmly held between flange12 and bead 25, the downward pressure of bottom 33 on the intermediateportion of gasket 23 pulls the inner edge of the gasket away from theouter surface of stem 20,. thereby breaking the seal between gasket 23and lateral orifice 22 to cause discharge of the contents of thecontainer. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the upperportion of the edge of the gasket defining the central opening fittingaround the stem is displaced outwardly to uncover lateral orifice 22,but it will be understood that the lower portion of this edge would bedisplaced if the cooperating projections engaging opposite surfaces ofgaskct 23 were reversed. Gasket 23 is preferably rubber, but in anyevent is made of material having snlficient resilience to cause it toreturn to its normal position when the pressure against tip 27 isreleased. The ability of gasket 23 to return to its normal positioneliminates the necessity of providing a spring to stop the discharge ofmaterial when the spray tip is released.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the structure is essentially the same asthat previously described, and only the modified parts will bedescribed. The same reference characters are used to indicate identicalstructure. The mounting cup 2' differs from the mounting cup 2 only inthat the flange 11 is omitted. Gasket 23 is provided with a series ofapertures 34, and tip 27' is provided with integral prongs 35 dependingfrom the bottom 33 to project through the apertures 34. The lower end ofeach prong 35 is bent at right angles to form a flange 36 adapted toengage the lower surface of gasket 23' to prevent separation of tip 27'from the assembly. The operation of tip 27 for dispensing the contentsof the container to which the valve assembly is secured is the same asthe operation of the tip 27.

Additionally, the embodiment of Fig. 5 is provided with a secondmetering device which may be used with either embodiment of theinvention. The second metering device comprises a disk 37 fittingagainst the inside of the upper end of recess 18. The disk 37 may bemade of any suitable material, but is preferably plastic, and isprovided with a metering orifice 38 communicating with recess 21. Themetering disk 37 is effective to prevent any seepage of the contents.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have devised avalve assembly for aerosol dispensing containers that does not requireany spring or other metal part that might come in contact with thematerial being dispensed. The material does not come into contact withthe sealing gasket except for a small area at the inner edge of thegasket. The elimination of the metal spring simplifies the constructionof the valve assembly and thereby reduces the manufacturing cost. Thepossibility of seepage between the gasket and the tip is reduced bykeeping the surface area of the gasket that may come into contact withthe material being dispensed at a minimum.

While I have described two preferred embodiments of my invention inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description thereofis intended to 'be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as manydetails may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted tothe exact construction described.

I claim:

1. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup and a valve securedtogether in fixed relationship, said valve having a valve stemprojecting above said cup, a metering orifice in said stem, an annulargasket fitting around said stem, the inner edge of said gasket normallysealing said metering orifice, the peripheral edge portion of saidgasket being securely held in fixed relationship to said cup and valve,and a spray tip slidably mounted on said stern and secured againstseparation from said assembly; said spray tip engaging said gasket andoperable, under depressing finger pressure, to displace the inner edgeof said gasket from sealing engagement with said metering orifice.

2. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup, a valve comprising adisk secured in fixed relationship to said cup, a valve stem projectingfrom said disk, said stem having a metering orifice, an annular gasketseated on said disk, the inner edge of said gasket normally sealing saidorifice, a spray tip slidably mounted on said stern,

' and means holding the lower end of said tip in engagement with saidgasket, said tip and said disk cooperating to displace the inner edge ofsaid gasket from sealing engagement with said orifice upon movement ofsaid tip towards said disk.

3. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup, a valve comprising adisk secured in fixed relationship to said cup, a valve stem projectingfrom said disk, said stern having a metering orifice, an annular gasketseated on said disk, the inner edge of said gasket normally sealing saidorifice, said gasket having a plurality of apertures extendingtherethrough, a spray tip slidably mounted on said stem, said tip havingits lower end seated on said gasket, and a plurality of prongs dependingfrom the lower end of said up through said apertures, each of saidprongs having its lower end bent against the lower surface of saidgasket to prevent disengagement of said tip and said gasket.

4. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup having a centrallydisposed opening defined by a vertical wall, said vertical wall havingan intermediate flange extending inwardly therefrom, a valve comprisinga disk fitting snugly within said opening below said flange, a valvestem projecting upwardly from said disk, a metering orifice extendinglaterally from the peripheral surface of said stem, a sealing gasketfitting around said stem to seal the outer end of said metering orifice,the outer edge portion of said gasket being securely held between saiddisk and said flange, said disk having an annular groove disposedbeneath the intermediate portion of said sealing gasket, and a tiphaving an annular bottom of less width than said groove engaging theupper surface of said gasket in alignment with said groove, said tipbeing depressible to displace the inner edge of said gasket from saidmetering orifice.

5. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup having a centrallydisposed opening defined by avertical wall, said vertical wall having aninwardly extending flange at its upper edge and an intermediate flangebelow said upper edge, a valve comprising a disk fitting within saidopening below said intermediate flange, said disk having an annulargroove in its upper surface, a sealing gasket mounted between said diskand said intermediate flange, a valve stem extending upwardly from saiddisk through a central opening in said sealing gasket, said valve stemhaving a metering orifice normally sealed by the inner edge of saidgasket, and a tip having a circumferential rib interengaged with saidfirst mentioned flange to hold said tip in said assembly, said tiphaving an annular bottom engaging the upper surface of said gasket inalignment with said annular groove and being depressible to displace theinner edge of said gasket from sealing engagement with said meteringorifice.

6. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup having a centrallydisposed opening defined by a vertical wall, a valve comprising a diskfitted within said opening, said disk and said vertical wall having acooperating recess and rib interengaged to prevent relative movementtherebetween, a valve stem projecting from said disk, said stem having ametering orifice in its side, an annular gasket fitted over said stem tonormally seal said metering orifice, the peripheral edge portion of saidgasket being secured between said disk and a portion of said cup, and aspray tip having a lower end engaging the intermediate portion of theupper surface of said gasket, said tip being movable relative to saiddisk to displace said gasket from sealing engagement with said meteringorifice.

7. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup having a centrallydisposed opening defined by a vertical wall, a valve comprising a diskfitted Within said opening, said disk and said vertical wall having acooperating recess and rib interengaged to prevent relative movementtherebetween, a valve stem projecting from said disk, said stern havinga metering orifice in its side, an annular gasket fitted over said stemto normally seal said metering orifice, the peripheral edge portion ofsaid gasket being secured between said disk and a portion of said cup, aspray tip having a lower end engaging the intermediate portion of theupper surface of said gasket, said tip being movable relative to saiddisk to displace said gasket from sealing engagement with said meteringorifice, and means locking said spray tip against separation from saidgasket.

8. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup having a centrallydisposed opening defined by a vertical wall, a valve comprising a diskfitted within said opening, said disk and said vertical wall having acooperating recess and rib interengaged to prevent relative movementtherebetween, a valve stem projecting from said disk, said stem having ametering orifice in its side, an annular gasket fitted over said stem tonormally seal said metering orifice, the peripheral edge portion of saidgasket being secured between said disk and a portion of said cup, aspray tip having a lower end engaging the intermediate portion of theupper surface of said gasket, said tip being movable relative to saiddisk to displace said gasket from sealing engagement with said meteringorifice, and prongs depending from said spray tip, said prongs engagingsaid gasket to lock said spray tip against separation from said gasket.

9. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup, a valve comprising adisk secured within said cup, a valve stem projecting from said disk,said valve stem having a metering orifice at one side thereof, said diskhaving an annular shoulder adjacent the lower portion of said stem andan annular bead projecting upwardly adjacent its peripheral edge, aresilient annular gasket seated on said bead and said shoulder, theinner edge of said gasket sealing said orifice, and a spray tip having alower end engaging the upper surface of said gasket, said spray tipbeing depressible, upon the downward application of vertical pressureagainst said tip, to displace the inner edge of said gasket from sealingengagement with said orifice, said gasket being effective by reason ofits resilience, to return to its sealing position and to return saidspray tip to its initial position upon release of said pressure againstsaid tip.

10. In an aerosol valve assembly, a mounting cup having a centrallydisposed opening therein, a valve stem imm'ovably mounted in saidmounting cup and projecting upwardly through said centrally disposedopening, a metering orifice extending laterally from the peripheralsurface of said stem, a sealing gasket secured in said mounting cup andhaving an aperture fitting around said stem to seal the outer end ofsaid metering orifice, and a spray tip extending through said openingand having a lower edge engaging said gasket, said spray tip beingdepressible to move the portion of the sealing gasket in engagement withthe lower edge of the spray tip to displace the gasket from sealingengagement with the outer end of said metering orifice.

11. In an aerosol valve assembly, a support member having an openingtherein, a resilient valve gasket having an aperture therein, meansmounting said gasket in said support member with said aperture alignedwith said opening and supporting said gasket at the inner and outeredges thereof at the side thereof remote from said opening in saidsupport member, a valve stem projecting through said aperture in saidgasket in sealing relation thereto, said valve stem secured to saidsupport member and having an aperture therein normally sealed by saidgasket, a spray tip projecting through said opening and engaging saidgasket opposite a region thereof between the supported portions thereofso that depression of said spray tip deforms said gasket to move thesame away from the aperture in the valve stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,631,814 Abplanalp Mar. 17, 1953 2,662,668 Schmidt Dec. 15, 19532,715,481 McGhie Aug. 16, 1955 2,772,820 ODonnell Dec. 20, 1956 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,093,679 France Nov. 24, 1954

